NSU, W&M future foes for Monarchs
Virginia Tech will be fixture on most slates
Old Dominion will welcome a pair of local football rivals back to S.B. Ballard Stadium, with Norfolk State visiting the Monarchs in 2026 and William & Mary coming to Norfolk in 2029, ODU announced Thursday.
ODU also announced the addition of two opponents to future schedules: Texas A&M-Commerce and North Carolina Central. Texas A&M-Commerce replaces a game originally scheduled at home against Buffalo on Sept. 23, 2023, while N.C. Central will play in Norfolk in 2025.
Over the next 11 seasons, ODU’s schedule includes nine games against Virginia Tech, five against East Carolina, four against Army, three against Liberty and single games with Virginia, Wake Forest, Indiana and South Carolina.
ODU will open next season at
Virginia Tech on Sept. 2, host Wake Forest on Sept. 16 and play at Liberty on Nov. 11 in a game originally scheduled for Sept. 30.
“When we get the opportunity to play Virginia Tech and Virginia, it helps the whole state,” ODU coach Ricky Rahne said in a statement. “And just like that, when we play Norfolk State or William and Mary, I think it helps the region, all of the 757.”
Norfolk State will play at ODU on Sept. 5, 2026, in the teams’ fifth meeting. ODU has won the previous four, including a 24-21 victory to open Ballard Stadium in 2019 before a sellout crowd of 21,944. ODU also has games scheduled that season at Virginia Tech on Sept. 12 and at home against UConn on Oct. 31.
In 2029, William & Mary will visit ODU on Sept. 1 in a fourth meeting between the schools. ODU is 2-1 against the Tribe. The Monarchs’ schedule that season will also include games at Army (Sept. 8) and at East Carolina
(Sept. 15) and a home game vs. Virginia Tech on Sept. 22.
“The football landscape continues to evolve, and we’re trying to align our program in the most favorable light for bowl games and ultimately, the expanded College Football Playoff,” Bruce Stewart, deputy athletic director and chief operating officer who oversees football and football scheduling, said in a statement. “We’re always excited about the challenge of playing our schedule [vs. Power Five schools] and the fact that we get to play some of these teams at home. But I also think it’s great for our kids to play some different teams.”
Jami Frankenberry, 757-4462376, jami.frankenberry@ pilotonline.com |
Twitter @JamiVP